Staying Current

AASL Best Websites of 2017

When I first checked out the AASL Best Websites of 2017, I was surprised by the sheer number of resources.  Until I looked at this week's folder, I didn't know that one of the selection criteria for this list is that the website has to be free.  I was so impressed by the number of resources and how diverse the collection is.  I opened each link in a separate tab so that I could take at least a cursory glance at each one before deciding which three I wanted to focus on.

I'm in kind of strange position for the upcoming school year (waiting to see if I'm replaced at my current job so that I can move into a library position at a different school in my district), so I wanted to make sure that I was looking at resources that could be use in both high schools (where I currently work) and elementary schools (where I might end up).  After taking a look at each website, I narrowed my focus to 14 that I wanted to take a closer look at.  From there, I narrowed it down to 7, and then it was actually pretty difficult to choose my top three, but I managed! 😃

Top 3 - In No Particular Order 

1. Buncee - Buncee is an online presentation platform that allows users to add videos, texts, images and more without ever having to leave the site.  One thing that immediately intrigued me with regard to Buncee is that it can be used at any grade level.  I decided to sign up for an account and explore some of their features.  First of all, their tutorial video is great.  It made everything seem quick and easy and went into some depth on quite a few aspects of the platform.  I played around with Buncee a little and think that it's a great way to liven up presentations.  Students could easily manipulate the different features to create fun and exciting presentations in any class.

2.  Baamboozle - Baamboozle is an online platform that includes games appropriate to tons of different grade levels and content areas, and is deemed appropriate for students K-12.  It isn't necessary to sign up for an account to play the games (huge plus in my book).  Curious, I decided to check out their Harry Potter Trivia game.  It's so fun!   I decided to create an account to see how easy it is to create your own game, and was pleased to discover that this platform is really free, like no premium package or whatever (another plus).  I remember trying to create Jeopardy review games for different units - and this is way easier.  Teachers could use this to review information or assess what students already know before beginning a unit.

3.  MediaSmarts - MediaSmarts might actually have been my favorite resource.  As an teacher, it's no secret that our students have difficulty understanding what types of sources are appropriate to use, however, media literacy is kind of tricky thing to teach students.  MediaSmarts includes lesson plans and resources for teachers, parents and students, and includes games, tutorials and articles for students in grades K-12.  Topics are divided up into three general categories: "general information," "media issues," and "digital issues" and are easy to navigate.  Teachers could add these resources to their arsenal of media literacy lessons and students will enjoy interacting with the site and learning to be responsible digital citizens as they do so.

Blog

Next I opened each blog in a different tab so I could check out all of them before deciding which one to follow.  The two that I found most visually appealing were The Adventures of Library Girl and Renovated Learning.  I'd heard of The Adventures of Library Girl before, so I decided to check that one out a little more thoroughly before making a call.  I'm so glad that I did, because Renovated Learning is AWESOME.

Whether I'm working in the same high school that I've been at for the last couple years, or working in a newly renovated elementary school library (it's completely bare y'all - like completely), I know that I want to help create a really engaging Makerspace and add some creativity to the space, and Diana Rendina completely lays out how to do just that in her blog, Renovated Learning.  The blog is full of pertinent and helpful information and is laid out in such a way that the information is never overwhelming.  I really enjoyed checking out her posts, and look forward to implementing some of what I've learned in the coming school year.